"IN RESPONSE to emerging environmental issues caused by heavy reliance on natural resources, Myanmar has come up with new policies on national environment and climate change as well as a master plan, Kyaw Zaw, deputy permanent secretary at the natural and environmental conservation ministry, said. The official told The Nation on Tuesday that Myanmar’s efforts in conserving the environment will become more effective once the new policies and guidelines are in place. “In the past, some of our operations were not as effective as expected because we lacked concrete policy framework and rules,” he said. “Our president recently announced the national environment policy and the climate-change master plan, with support from the United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP] and other development partners. We are now implementing these policies to ensure we protect our environment well.” Kyaw Zaw said the policies would be implemented through short- and long-term development plans. Also, he said, investment will be made in the implementation of policies in cooperation with development partners. President Win Myint announced the launch of the policies on June 5, World Environment Day. He said the aim was to ensure a clean environment with healthy, functioning ecosystems as well as a carbon-resilient, low-carbon society. He also urged investment in renewable energy. Kyaw Zaw, meanwhile, stressed on the need to cooperate with the private sector, urging businesses to follow the environment ministry’s instructions to create a sustainable society. “Whenever a development project is implemented, there can be adverse impacts – both socially and physically. As a regulator, we are trying to minimise such impacts,” he said. On Monday, the environment ministry held talks with World Bank Myanmar to foster cooperation in conservation work. The discussion focused on investment issues, development and capacity building works in prioritised regions, translating newly-prepared instructions into ethnic languages, effective cooperation with locals, drawing up programmes for joint funding to implement waste-management strategy, cooperation with respective states and regions to manage tourism-related wastes..."